Ernell De Vera, R.N., MBA, is Chief Nurse Executive, Mental Health & Addiction Care (MHAC), at Sutter Health. Ernell provides strategic leadership through implementation of key strategic and operational initiatives to improve quality and safety. Ernell collaborates with Sutter Health Mental Health & Addiction Care entity leaders to develop and/or implement clinical nursing policies establishing uniform standard of quality patient care across affiliates and the system.

In 2018, Ernell led the implementation of an evidenced-based suicide screening and standardized physical environmental assessment tools across Sutter Health as part of the health system’s suicide prevention efforts. To date, over 600k suicide screens have been administered helping identify those high-risk individuals needing the appropriate level of care.

Additionally, Ernell spearheaded the development of Mental Health System Quality/Safety Dashboard bringing visibility to all mental health units/hospitals performance and in alignment with Sutter Health’s General Acute Care Setting’s Clinical Quality Statements where applicable.

Currently, Ernell is sponsoring the implementation of Behavioral Health EPIC Module in the mental health inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory settings with a Go-Live date in April 2022.

Prior to her current role, Ernell held different roles at Sutter Center for Psychiatry including Regional Behavioral Health Educator, Director of Operations and Director of Nursing Services where she was responsible for leading the organization’s initial Joint Commission Accreditation as a free-standing psychiatric hospital. Under her leadership, Nursing Services achieved Best Practice scores for Experience of Work (staff satisfaction) survey results and helped SCP gained Modern Health Care’s Best Places to Work designation for 6 consecutive years.

Before joining Sutter Health, Ernell served in different leadership roles including Director of Clinical Services at Fremont Hospital and Chief Nursing Officer at Sierra Vista Hospital (both organizations previously owned by Psychiatric Solutions and Universal Health Services currently).  In both organizations, Ernell led quality and safety initiatives resulting in improved HBIPS overall performance and reduction in seclusion/restraints. During her tenure, she played a critical role in achieving successful Joint Commission triennial surveys. Ernell brings over 22 years of leadership experience in the acute psychiatric hospital setting.